She crested the top of a small hill, only to find a man in black approaching her. Oh no, this wasn’t in the plan. They couldn’t have known about this path; she had lived here for almost a month and she didn’t even know. And the path led to Harlan and Cassidy’s property, Alexis could only pray that there was no harm to them.
The man continued to stalk toward her and Alexis spun around, running back down the hill. Veering off the path wasn’t the smartest decision, getting lost in the woods was one of her worst fears, but right now, it was the only option facing her. She was stuck and it was just a matter of time before one of the men caught up to her. Alexis wasn’t familiar with the woods, causing her to slow her pace. Her eyes darted around, looking for anywhere to hide or take cover.
Off in the distance, Alexis saw another shadow moving through the trees. She was trapped.
Turning around, she smacked into the chest of a solid black mass. The scream bubbled up in her throat but had no chance to break free as the man lifted her in the air and covered her mouth with his hand.
“You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble for us. The boss is not pleased,” the man tsked against her ear. The rough stubble of his beard scratched her face and she tried to buck away but his hold on her waist was too strong.
Carrying her back to the path, he waited for the other men to join him before making his way back toward the lake. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. How did she get in this entire mess? All because of her existence? She needed answers and it seemed like she would never get them.
As they continued the trek, even though they were outside in the open air, the men’s body odor wafted across her nose. She gagged behind her clamped mouth at the scent. Wearing all black in the summer’s heat wasn’t always the smartest choice.
The opening for the lake came into view and Alexis sighed in relief at the sight of Cliff’s back. She had never felt such exaltation during a worse circumstance. The only thing that came close was when Heath found her outside her father’s bunker.
Alexis’ body grew tighter, if possible, as the elephant of a man carried her closer to their pack.
Suddenly one man fell to the ground and her captor's arm tightened around her waist as he stopped in his tracks. A moment later, another man fell, then a third.
From her perspective, she couldn’t make out where the shots were coming from, but knowing Cliff, Alexis assumed that he had rigged up the area as a precaution. She wanted to get her hands on whatever device he was using to set the weapons off.
“Ow,” she grunted behind the man’s hand as his arms began to dig into her rib cage.
“I need to call the boss. Keep her quiet,” elephant man commanded as he roughly handed her over to a smaller, but equally muscled hulk.
Alexis considered using the switch off to break free and scream for everything she’s worth, but she hesitated. She had no idea how many of the men were armed. They could easily take her and Cliff out. The odds weren’t in their favor. The exchange happened quickly and she didn’t even get the opportunity to kick the man in the shins or groin. They tossed her between them already knowing how she planned to fight, like they’ve done it many times before. And knowing the type of dirty business they run with her father, she’s confident they’ve seen it all before. They’re probably some of the same men that took out her team in the bunker. Death and innocence meant little to them. Demons in a black suit.
From the cabin side of the lake, Alexis’ eyes widened as another man approached behind Cliff. He moved stealthy, his crouched position masking the sounds of his feet crunching on the ground while Cliff mocked the men standing before him.
A second man followed behind him as the first man lifted a crowbar in the air. As the newcomer buttoned his suit jacket, Alexis recognized him immediately – her father.
Biting her captor’s hand, Alexis wrenched her face free and shouted Cliff’s name just as the crowbar collided with the back of his head.
“No! Cliff!”
Alexis had been in a panic before, but nothing like this. Nothing like watching a blindsided Cliff helplessly fall to the ground, his lifeless body landing with a thud.
“Cliff!” she cried out again, her heart shredded inside her chest. Her body acted on reflex as grief consumed her. Alexis’ legs and arms flailed about uncontrollably. She pushed against the captor’s hold, trying to reach the man that held her heart.
Regardless of her fight, she was carried back toward the other side of the lake, her father watching their approach with each step. She felt so much hatred toward the man that she shared DNA with.
“Glad to see you’ve finally come around,” he sneered.
Alexis, still squirming in the captor’s hold, leaned her head toward her father’s. Without a thought to the consequences, she spit in his face. The moisture landed in his hair and on his tanned skin. She seethed at him, her chest heaving as he reached for a handkerchief and wiped away the wetness.
She was not expecting the left hook after her father delicately placed the cloth back into his pocket. She tasted the blood from her now split lip, the fleshy skin catching on a jeweled gold ring he wore on his index finger.
“You’ve always been too defiant for your own good. Take her to the car, we’re on a tight schedule.”
“What do you want us to do with the man?” one of the men asked as the captor carried her past Cliff’s limp body lying on the wet ground, the edge of the lake nipping at his legs.
“Toss him in the lake.”
A few of the men took turns kicking at Cliff’s abdomen, and Alexis winced at every punt.
Wake up, Cliff!
But he didn’t hear her internal plea. And as the men shoved his massive body into the dark pool of water, any hope Alexis hung on to disintegrated into the air. He made no movement as his body floated face down in the same place they had skinny-dipped not long ago. She thought she knew of despair, knew of loss, but those thoughts are nothing compared to the hopelessness washing over her.